Newcomers Make Early Impression

NEWPORT NEWS — A pair that had keyed Christopher Newport's basketball team off the bench joined the starting lineup last weekend, creating better starts for the Captains.

Although by no means a transformational change, the switch was the latest wrinkle for CNU's work in progress. Coach C.J. Woollum's group split two road games, winning the finale 84-80 at Averett, to go to 5-12 overall, 1-3 in the USA South.

Freshmen Michael Green and Conley Taylor, a 6-foot-4 forward and 6-2 guard, respectively, moved into the starting lineup. They bring energy, rebounding and intensity to a young group that has struggled.

"They're all growing up slowly but surely, and to have performed in that atmosphere against the defending (USA South) champion, against the team that was in first and picked first was a great accomplishment," Woollum said. "So we're kind of using that game now to be the turnaround game to really try to propel us some momentum."

Taylor is a graduate of Menchville High, while Green joined the team for the second semester after transferring from Tidewater Community College. Taylor had been CNU's sixth man, and he and Green showed promise at crunch time of CNU's 81-73 victory against Mary Washington on Jan. 5.

Thomas Whinnett inside, Theo Baker at a wing and Davon Barton at point guard were the pieces already in place. Woollum was impressed with the Taylor-Green combination at the time, and switched to it as his latest rehash of the starting lineup last weekend.

"We're an undersized team with that starting lineup, but they have other pluses," Woollum said.

"We finally get put in the starting lineup; it's a confidence-builder at the same time," Taylor said. "We're free to do a little bit more on the court. We had been getting the points off the bench, but it's not the same as starting."

Green and Taylor played for former CNU players in high school. Captains alum Tiran Matthews coached Green at Granby High in Norfolk, while Taylor played for Erick Mays at Menchville.

Neither coach is surprised at the immediate impact the rookies are having in college.

"Just about exactly how things are going is how I thought they'd go," Mays said. "(Conley's) a very determined young man. He came into the college game physically ready, strong enough and mentally prepared to step in and do the things that he's doing.

"People look at him, try to judge a book by its cover, and he's a lot more athletic than people give him credit for."

Originally, CNU coaches were recruiting another Granby player last winter, but Matthews pointed out that Green would be a good fit. He had to work on his grades for a semester, but has played in the last 11 of CNU's 17 games.

"He averaged a double-double for me last year and I never drew a play up for him," Matthews said. "Plus he plays so hard - that's always a bonus. I told him when he played here, I thought a nice Division III school would be great for him because he could still play inside. He plays a lot bigger than what he is."

Whinnett and Green are CNU's leading rebounders.

"I just did what was asked; my job was rebounding," Green said. "I don't really plan on scoring. I just do it because it just comes."

Rebounding and inside scoring were desperately needed, and both players have helped with each.

Taylor is a fearless slasher to the basket who can mix it up inside, while Green has excellent mobility and touch.

"Conley, he's a tough kid, and offensively he just puts so much pressure on the defense every time he touches the ball because he can just go by people," Woollum said.

"He'll get rebounds, too. He's not real huge height-wise, but he's tough and he gets rebounds for us, which was another important point of this.

"Michael, he just is great around the basket. He made some huge tip-ins and he's a fierce rebounder. He gets to the offensive glass hard, and I'd like to have a couple more with that mind-set in terms of getting on the boards for us because he's really good at it."

THE FRESHMEN FILE

MICHAEL GREEN

SCHOOL: Christopher Newport.

POSITION: Forward.

YEAR: Freshman.

HEIGHT: 6-4.

HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL: Norfolk/Granby.

NOTABLE: Averaging 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. ... Has played in the last 11 of CNU's 17 games. ... Transferred in after a semester at Tidewater Community College. ... Averaged a double-double as a senior at Granby.

CONLEY TAYLOR

SCHOOL: Christopher Newport.

POSITION: Guard.

YEAR: Freshman.

HEIGHT: 6-2.

HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL: Newport News/Menchville.

NOTABLE: Averaging 10.8 points per game. ... Has made 20 steals. ... Third-team all-Peninsula District selection as a senior. ... Averaged 12 points as a senior, 13 his junior season and nine as a sophomore. ... Finance major.

UPCOMING MEN'S GAMES

* Methodist at CNU, 4 p.m. Saturday.

* Greensboro at CNU, 4 p.m. Sunday.

The women's games begin at 2 p.m. both days. All games are at the Freeman Center.